The Lions trailed the Mustangs 6-0 for much of the first half. McArthur’s six points came on a blocked field goal, which junior Kevin Knowles returned about 90 yards for a touchdown.

That was the game’s only score for most of the first half. The Mustangs’ red-zone defense kept the Lions out of the end zone three separate times: McArthur blocked the Chaminade field goal, the Mustangs stopped the Lions on fourth-and-short, and McArthur defensive back and Rutgers commit Jerrold Pough picked off a pass.

That red-zone defense was enough to stymie Chaminade until defensive back Torrie Cox Jr. picked off a pass and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown. On McArthur’s following offensive play, Chaminade forced and recovered a fumble. On the Lions’ next play, junior quarterback Alex Law hit Joshua Jenkins for a 24-yard touchdown.

“After that, we basically knew we were going to win the game,” Cox said. “We had the momentum the rest of the game."

Chaminade’s offense roared back to life to start the second half, scoring on a 5-yard Thad Franklin run to go ahead 21-6. Franklin ran for 145 yards on 31 carries. Teammate Rony Bordeau added 73 yards on the ground.

Chaminade’s offense stalled from that point forward, allowing McArthur to fight back. The Mustangs scored on a 2-yard Jaylen Taylor run to cut the Lions’ lead to nine. They went for a two-point conversion to try to make it a one-score game, but the pass from Horace Atkins fell incomplete. Chamiande-Madonna’s defense shut them down from there.

“We always lean on our defense,” Jones said. “So I’m proud of them and the job they do.”